Kodak 2000 Alex Rodriguez Players Collection Motion Card

Recently my son-in-law gave me a Kodak 2000 Alex Rodriguez Players Collection Motion Card.

 

I've never seen this card (if you want to call it a card) before, as it show a young A-Rod, in motion, while with the Mariners.  It is little quirky, but it's now in my collection.

 

Last Thursday, Alex Rodriguez passed Willie Mays, to move into fourth place on baseball's all-time home run list. Rodriguez hit career homer No. 661 at Yankee Stadium in the Yankees 4 to 3 victory over the Orioles.  Batting in the third inning, A-Rod homered off Orioles' starting pitcher, Chris Tillman. 

 

The home run seemed to not be that big of deal.  There were some articles about Rodriguez' pursuit of Mays prior to the historic homer, and he received a curtain call from Yankee fans after the home run, and ESPN made it their Top Play of the Day.

 

Now the story most written about is that the Yankees are not going to pay Rodriguez a $6 million bonus for passing Mays. The bonus was included in Rodriguez' contract with the thinking that the Yankees could make millions of dollars for the accomplishment.  The team has seemed to ignored the whole thing other than a reminder on the scoreboard.  I didn't think you will find any Rodriguez 661 home run t-shirts.

 

At this time, the Yankees are in first place in the American League Eastern Division. Rodriguez has been their regular designated hitter, while spending time playing third and first base.  He is currently batting .247 (24 hits in 97 at bats) with 7 home runs and 19 RBI.  He is second on the team in home runs and RBI to Mark Teixeira.

 

Rodriguez needs 53 homers to catch Yankee All-Time great Babe Ruth.   After Ruth, Rodriguez still needs to pass Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762) to become the all-time home run leader.  A-Rod will be 40 in July, and needs more than 100 home runs to move beyond Bonds.  If he wants to pass Bonds, at a minimum, he will probably need to play another three seasons.  If he does get to 763 home runs, his legacy will likely be similar to how Bonds is currently received by a majority in the baseball community.  However, with the passing of Mays, and with his 661 home runs, Rodriguez moves into some very rarefied air.   

 

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